Identifying the codes and conventions (features) of action films and examples

1. {
Codes and
conventions of the
action genre
For AS Media Studies coursework

2. Fights/violence
The main plot of an action film revolves around the
protagonist battling the main villain in order for the story’s
problem to be resolved by the former character.
There is often hand-to-hand combat (often through punches,
kicks and jiu jitsu/karate & other martial arts-like moves) and
use of guns and explosives, such as in the James Bond and
Mission Impossible franchises.

3. Female victim/love
interest
Most films of the action genre feature a female character who
has the role of the damsel in distress (referred to as the
‘princess’ by Propp) and/or the love interest of the hero, often
doing little else.
James Bond films are well known for featuring ‘Bond girls’ who
engage in romantic relationships with the titular hero, while in
the first Fast and Furious film, one of the main characters has a
love interest who is also skilled in mechanics and driving,
therefore challenging this convention.

4. Sinister villain
Many villains of action films are distinguished
through their actions and motives (often revenge or
power) expressed in the story. There is also the
common stereotype of these character types coming
from Russia and other European countries, e.g. Ernst
Stavro Blofield in Spectre.
The protagonists have to face up against this
character in order to drive the plotline and
restore equilibrium to the story.

5. Weapons
Action films largely revolve around saving people and
killing antagonists and guns are symbols of death and
violence, so it is a well known symbol of the genre.
The most common of these is guns and firearms, mainly
used by spies like James Bond and numerous characters
in the Mission: Impossible series, but also by other types of
people e.g. CIA, soldiers.

6. Chases
Often in action films, a pursuit takes place between the villain
and/or their henchmen and the protagonist – some films have
pursuits in vehicles (the most common being cars), while others
take place on foot and a few feature a combination of both.
Some films have pursuits in vehicles (the most common being
cars), e.g. the Fast and Furious series, while others take place on
foot, e.g. Jason Bourne & James Bond, and a few feature a
combination of both, e.g. Black Widow’s pursuits in some of the
Marvel films.

7. Death
Some of the villain’s henchmen, and often the main villain
themselves, meet their demise during or after the events of an
action movie, resolving the problem of the story and bringing
equilibrium (Todorov).
However, a friend, love interest, ally or relative of the
protagonist can also die – this is the case for M, James Bond’s
mentor, in Skyfall, and in The Bourne Supremacy, Jason Bourne’s
girlfriend meets the same fate.

8. Settings
Most action films take place in modern cities and urban
areas, such as Taken (Paris) and Fast and Furious: Tokyo
Drift – this setting is where most of a film’s fights and
chases will take place.
Other settings that may be used are deserts/desert-like
areas, as seen in Mad Max: Fury Road and one scene in
Spectre.